plate no. 4494

Iconographer Atanas Kavrakov

Dobri Dobrev, 1941

oilRealismportraitportraitfigureartistpaintingpalettesketch

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and creating realistic skin tones, as well as understanding how to depict depth and form through value and color.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and placement of the figure and background elements.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of warm and cool neutral tones, suggesting the figures behind.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the figure with mid-tone values, paying attention to the overall form.
step 04
Begin building up the skin tones with layers of color, focusing on highlights and shadows.
step 05
Refine the details of the face, including the eyes, nose, and mouth, to capture the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Paint the clothing and palette, using darker values for the vest and lighter values for the shirt.
step 07
Add final details such as the brush, the paint on the palette, and any subtle highlights.
step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to create a cohesive and realistic painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · titanium white · ultramarine blue

secondary · burnt sienna · yellow ochre · ivory black

Skin tones are achieved by mixing raw umber, white, and small amounts of burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Blue is used to cool down shadows and create depth.

techniques